Hatch cover assembly



061. 27, 1959 GREER ETAL HA'I'CH COVER ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1956 m\.. M\ \m 6% JAMEs .J' ENKINS KU TH L- aflaMd ZZM ATTORNEYS fi miii: \wN

Oct. 27, 1959 E. M. GREER ETAL HATCH COVER ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 11, 1956 1 a 5 j Z My 3 a" n" ,H/" 4 r0 x 3 mfifx. 4 iwi mm m/ hf PH 1 n 4} l \l "a u rim. mH J a b 3 5 $4. I

Oct. 27, 1959 Filed June 11, 1956 5 sheets -sheet 4 FEW- l !--1' 145 H I 1 I I I {/43 F I i Oct. 27, 1959 E. M. GREER ET A1 7 2,910,031

HATCH COVER ASSEMBLY Filed June 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORN EYS 2,910,031 I v HATCH COVER ASSEMBLY Application June 11, 1956, Serial No. 590,689

' 17 Claims. '(Cl. 114 201) As conducive to an understanding of the invention, it

is noted that in a ship of the type having a hatch opening with an elevator housing at one end having its entrance extending across the hatchway and more particularly 'anlammunition ship in which the elevator rising through the-hatch opening is used to bring up containers of ammunition from the hold, his essential in' order to provide quick and ready access to the hold that the hatchway and entrance to the housing be readily opened and closed and when opened, that the panels closing the hatchway andentrance be completelyclear thereof.

Where the, ships gear, including its b'oorn or hoist,v is used to move the relatively heavy panels, the, operation is difiicult, dangerous to personnel, time consuming and the need to store the panels after they are'rernoved, in a.-position accessible to the ships gear, may result in cluttering up the deck of theshipL It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a cover assembly of the above type that is relatively simple in construction, having but few parts that are not likely to become out of order, thatprovide water-tight security when in closed position, andinay readily be operated 'by even unskilled personnel for rapid movement to open orclosed position, and which, when in such openposition, will be completely clear of the hatchway and entrance to the elevator housing.

AccOrding' to the invention from its broader aspect, a panel is .pivotally mounted to the top ofjthe elevator housing and dependstherefrom over the entrance to the housing to close the latter. A pair of actuators, desirably hydraulic units, are pivotally connected to the side of the housing and'the panel in such manner that upon extension of, the plunger of one of the hydraulic units the panel will be rotated away from the housing entrance a predetermined amount and dependably retained in such position by hydraulic means until subsequent retraction of the plunger of the other hydraulic United States Patent to Fig. 2 illustratingthe'operation'of the housing panel actuators,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the assembly with parts broken away,

Fig. 5 is a detail view taken along line 5- 5 of Fig. l, Fig. 6 isfa sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig; '1, f

Fig. 7 is a view of the hydraulic control; system, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the assembly.

Referring now to the'drawings, as shown in Figs. '1 and 2, the deck 11 of the ship has a hatch opening 12, at one end of which rises a'substantially rectangular housing 13 having side walls 14, a backwal1 1'5,an openfront 16 and a top wall 17. v

Positioned over the open front 16 of the housing 13 is a substantially rectangular box-like panel or cover '18 which is pivotally mounted so as to normally extend in vertical position by 'means of hinges 19, each having a pair ofhin'ge plates '21 and 22. ,The plates 21 and 22 are afiixed respectively to the topwall 1,7. of housing 13 and to the 'top wall 23 of'the cover 18 in such mannor that the pivotal axis '24 of the hinge will be longitudinally aligned with the front edge 25 of top wall 1 7 and positioned above the latter, so that the cover housing shownin full lines to open position shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. V

The bottom wall 31 of the cover 18 as shown in Fig. 4 extends slightly beyond the front wall 32 thereof to define a "flange 33 and each of the side walls 34 of the cover'extends beyond said bottom wall 31 and has a portion 35 thereof (Fig. 4) which also extends beyond the front wall 32 with the forward. edge 36 of said portions' 35 being beveled outwardly from the flange 33. t 1

Pivotally connected to the cover 18 near its lower end is apanel or cover 41 which in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 extends over the hatch opening 0 12 to close the latter. The cover 4.1 is also substantially unit causes the panel to be further "rotated in the same direction so that it extends over theftopof the housing having moved through an angle of approximately .270 5 degrees. 7

More particularly, thelowe'r end of the housing panel has pivotally connected thereto a second panel which may extend at right angles therefrom over the hatchway through which the, elevator rises to close such h atchway. The second panel, by means of a suitable actuator, which also may be a hydraulic unit, may be rotated ninety degrees so that it is parallel to the first panel which then is rotated through the angle of approximately 270 degrees to open position.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention, I

Fig. l is a top plan view of the assembly,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view partly in cross section taken along line 22 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar box-like and is pivoted to the cover 18 by means of hinges 42, each of which has a pair of binge plates .43, 44 afiixed to the top wall 45 of cover 41 adjacent its inner edge 46 and to the front wall 32 of cover 18 adjacent its bottom wall 31, the pivotal axis 47 of hinges 42 being longitudinally aligned with the junction 48 between the adjacent edges of flange 33 and top wall 45 of cover 41 as shown in Fig. 4. I v

In order to provide watertight security for the housing and the hatch opening, the inner edges 51 of the .tOP and side walls 23, 34 of the cover (Fig. 4) are provided with gaskets 52 which engage suitable sealing rails (not shown) In addition, the gasket '52 extends. along the lower edge 5 53 of the sidewalls 34 and the portions 35 thereof also to edge 46 and along the edges of side walls 56 thereof:

which are also beveled as at 57, said gasket extending beyond such edges so that they may engage the adjacent portions of gasket 52 when the covers are in closed position.

The gasket 55 also extends along the lower edges 58 of side walls 56 and end wall 59 of cover'41 (Fig. 6) and'is adapted to engage sealing rails 61, more particularly the horizontal legs 62 of L-shaped members afiixed to the deck of the ship around the periphery of the hatch opening 12. t

Means are provided to pivot the cover 41 from the 2,910,031" 1 V Patented Oct. 27, 1959 angle of approximately 90 degrees to the open position shown in broken lines in which it extends substantially parallel to cover 18, said cover 41 being spaced from cover 18 by means of a spacer block 64 mounted on said cover 18. r g i To this end, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, a plurality of hydraulic units 66 are provided, the cylinders 67 of which are pivoted as at 68 to a brace 69 extending the length of' the cover 41. The plungers 71 of the units 66 are pivotally connected as at 72 to a brace 73 affixed to the cover18 and extending between the members 35, the pivotal axis 72 lying in a plane below that of pivotal axis 68. I v

Means are provided to pivot the cover 18 through an angle ofapproximately 270 degrees from the closed positio'n' shown in Fig. 2 to the open. position shown in broken lines.

To this end, a pair of brackets 76, 77 are afiixed to wardly of hydraulic unit 85. The pivotal axes 81, 82

extends at right angles to the side walls 14 of the housing and the pivotal axis 82 is in a plane above the plane of pivotal axis 81. r

The plungers 86, 87 of hydraulic units 84, 85 are pivotally connected at their free end on a common axis 88 which desirably is a sturdy pin extending laterally outward from the side wall of cover 18 near its top wall 23.

on the right side of pivot 24. Thus, when the plunger 87 i of hydraulic unit 85is thereupon retracted, the movement of the cover 18 will be completed so that it lies in a substantially horizontal plane over the top wall 17 of housing 13, having moved through an angle of approximately 270 degrees.

In order to support the covers in the fully open position s'hown in broken lines in Fig.2, a ledge 91 is provided on the rear wall 15 of the housing 13 and extending outwardly therefrom on which the free end of cover 41 may rest.

Although the various hydraulic units 66, 84 and 8 may be operated in sequence in any suitable manner, in the illustrative embodiment shown, thehydraulic system shown inFig. 7 is preferred. 7

The hydraulic systemcomprises a power source which includes a pump 121 driven by a motor 122 and having its inlet 123 connected by line 124 to a reservoir 125. The outlet 126 of pump 121 is connected by main pressure line 127 through a cutoff valve 128 to a pressure accumulator 129 of conventional type, a pressure gauge 131 desirably beingconnected to said line 127.

The pressure line 127 is connected to a junction 132 and thence by line 133 through a flow restrictor 134 to the pressure port 135 of a manually operated valve 136 which has a neutral or cutoff position and two operating positions. The flow restrictor 134 as well as the other flow restrictor used are of the type that permits unrestricted flow in the direction of the arrow and restricted flow in the opposite direction.

The valve 136 has a return port 137 and two control ports 138,139. 'In the neutral position of the valve all of the ports are closed. In one operating position, ports 135, 138 and 137, 139 are connected and in'the othe'r operating position ports 135, 139 and 137, 138 are connected.

The port 138 is connected by line 141 through flow restrictor 142 to the port 143 of hydraulic unit 66. The port 144 of unit 66 is connected by line 145 to the port 139 of valve 136, the return port 137 of which is connected by line 146 through one-way valve 147 to reservoir125. The junction 132 is also connected by line 151 to the port 152 of a normally closed valve 153, the port ',154 of which is connected by line 155 through flow restrictor 156 to the pressure port 157 of a second manually operated valve 158, said flow restrictor 156 being by-passed by a line.160. The valve 153 is designed to open to connect ports 152, 154 when the panel 41 (Fig. 2) has reached vertical position and this end may be mounted on the panel 18 so that its control rod will be actuated at such time. f; The valve 158 also has a return port 161 and two control ports 162, 163. In the neutral position of the valve all the ports are closed. In oneoperating position ports -157, '162 and 161, 163 are'connected" and in the other operating position ports 157, 163 and 161, 162 are connected' The port 162 is connected by line 164jto-ajunction 165 and thence by line 166 to the port 167 of a solenoid operated valve 168. The valve 168 has three additional ports 169, 171, 172 and when the solenoid is deenergized, port 167 is connected to port 169 which is blocked and ports 171, 172 are connected. When the solenoid 170 is'energized, port 167' will be connected to port 172 and port 171 will be connected to blocked port 169.

The port 171 is connected by line 173 to line 174.

whichis connected to return line 146. Line 173 is also connected by line 175 and lines 176, 177 and 178 to the ports 171 of valves 183 and 184' and port 172 of valve' 185, The junction 165 is connected by line 186 tothe port 169 of a valve 188, the valves 183, 184, and

188 being similar to valve 168. The valves183 and 184 r are actuated by solenoids 191, 192 respectively and the valves 185 and 188 are actuated by hydraulic units 193, 193a and 194, 194a respectively.

Inthe normal position of valves 183, 184, 185 and 188, when the solenoids 191 and 192 are not energized and pressure is applied to the system the ports 167, 169 and 171, 172 are connected, and when said valves are actuated, the ports 167, 172 and 171, 169 will be connected. The ports 169, 172 of valve 183 are connected respectively by lines 196, 197 to the hydraulic units 194, 194a of valve 188. The port 167 of valve 183 is connected by line 198 to junction 132 and by line 199 to port 167 of valve 184. The port 172 of valve 188 is connected by line 201 to port 172 of valve 168.

The port 167 of valve 188 is connected by line 202 through flow restrictor 203 to the port 204 of hydraulic unit 84. The port 205 of unit 84 is connected by line 206 to port167 of valve 185, The port 171 of valve 188 is connected by line 207 through flow restrictor 208 to the port 209 of hydraulic unit 85. The port 211 of unit 85 is connected by line 212 to port 171 of valve 185.

The ports 169 and 172 of valve 184 are connected respectively by lines 213, 214 to the hydraulic units 193, 193a of valve 185. The port 169 of valve 185 is connected'by line 215 to port 163 of valve 158, the return port 161 being connected by line 216 through flow restrictor 217 and line 218 to return line 146.

The solenoid operated valves 168, 183, and 184 are controlled by means of a cam 93 (Fig. 5) secured to hinge member 22, for example, of one of the hinges 19. The can 93 operates a control arm 94 to close a-normally open switch' 221. One of the contacts of the -5witch.isconnected toone side ofia source of potential. Theother sideof the switchis'connected. to a time delay relay:222.and.also-by lead; 223 to one side of solenoids 191,and; 192 of valves;183,and 184. The other side of thctitne delay relay 222 isconnected to one side of solenoid 170 of1valve-168 and the other sides of the solenoids 170,=191, 192- are connected by lead 224 to the othersid'e of asource of potential.

In the operation of the covers, with the electrohydraulic circuit shown in Fig. 7,- the motor122 is energized so that the pump 121 will force fluid from reservoir;1 25 into the accumulator ;129tocharge the latter. The pump circuit has a conventional pressure switch (not shown) to-cut the motor 122 on and of]? as the pressure varies v between predetermined limits.

The valve 136 is. then manually operated to connect ,ports. 135, 138 and 137, 139 as shown. As a result, fluid under pressure will flow through line 127, junction 132, line 133,-flow restrictor134, ports 135,138 of valve 136, line;141, through flow restrictor 142 toport 143 of hy- .draulic 1 1nit-66. As v a result, the plunger 71 of unit 66 will be extended to cause thepanel ll to-move through an angle-of- 90 degrees totvertical position as shown in broken linesiniligl. -As plunger .71'is extended, the fluid in unit; ,66. will flow. from; port 144 thereof, through i: e -.1 45,-;ports 139, e137 ofvalve 136, line-146,.check .valve .147 to.- the reservoir.

When the .panel.41. reaches vertical position, it will actuatevalve .153 :toconnect its ports. 152, ,.154. -;As a result, fluid under pressure will flow from junction-132, line 151, ports 152, 1:54 of valve 153, line 155, flow restrictor ,156to port 157 of valve 158. At this-time 158 whichis normally closed may be actuated to connectfits ports 157, 162 and 161, 163.

If. the valve .158 should be actuated prior to themovementof panel v41 to ,vertical position, as valve 153 is closed, no, fluid uwill flow to valve 158 and hence the panel:1.8-controlledthereby will notmove. Thus, by the provisiomofvalve 153, there is assurance that the panel 18 cannot be moved until panel 41 has attained vertical position thereby preventing-damage to .the ships structure. Y ;Upon actuation of valve 158 as previously described, .fluid under pressure will'flow through ports 157, 162, line 164, junction 165, line '166 to port 167 of valve 168. However, asthe port 169 of this valve normally connected with port .167 is blocked, this will have no etfect. ;F luid yvill also flow .fr'omjunction 165 through line 186 vto the port 169 of 'valve 188 and thence throughport 167, line 202, flow restrictor 203 to the port 204 of hydraulic unit 84 to extend its plunger 86 thereby pivoting the panel 18 in a clockwise direction. I

As plunger 86 is extended, fluid will flow from port 205, li ne 20 6 to port 167 of valve 185and thence through port.169, line 215, through ports 163, 161 of valve 158,

line 216, flow restrictor 217 which dampens the movemerit of the panel 18, to line 174 and thence through return line 146 to the reservoir 125. s

When the panel 18 has pivotedan amount suchas that shown in Fig. 3, the pin 88 will be moved to aposition so that a line extending from pin 88 to pivotal axis 81 will be located on the left side of pivot 24 and a line extending from pin 88 to pivotal axis 82 will belocated in the right side of pivot 24, the cam 93 will actuatethe' switch 221 toclose the circuits to solenoid 170 through'time delay relay 2 2 2 and to solenoids 191 and 192, thereby actuating valves 1 68, 183 and 184 to connect their ports 167, 172 and 171, 169.

As aresultof the actuation of valves 183, 184 fluid un derpressurc will flow from junction 132, lines 198 and 1 99 t o"the ports167 of valves 183, 184, through ports 172 thereof, lines 197 and 214 respectively to the hydraulic units 1944 and 193a of valves 188 and185, to actuate such valves to connect their ports 167, 172. and 1 6 1 270 degree are.

Asa. result of the actuation; ofhydraulic units 194a, 193a,:fluid wilt flow from the-associated units 19.4, 193, lines 196, 213, through the ports 169, 171 of-valves 183, 184, lines 176, 177, 175,.1741to return lin'e146 and thence through che'ck' valve147to' reservoir 125.

' Fluid under pressure will also; flow through line 164 from valve 158, junction 165,. line 166, p0rts 167, .172 of valve 168, line 201, ports*172,.167 of valve 188 which has been actuated as-above described,-line 202,-flow restrictor 203 to, port 204 of hydraulic unit 84 tomaintain the pressurefin'such port so that the panel 18 will be;retained in; position.- Fluid-under pressure will-also flow from line 164, junction 165, line 186, ports 169,

' 171 of valve 188 which also hasbeen actuated, line 207 through restrictor 208, to port 2090f hydraulic unit 85.

Fluid under pressure is still appliedto port 204 of hydraulic unit 84 to;keep its plunger 86 extended even though it is also applied to port 209 of hydraulic unit .85 which will retract theplunger 87 thereof. .This'is done inasmuch asa short period of time is required for thepressure applied toport 209 to build up sufficiently to ;be able to overcome the-force of gravity tending to move the panel 18in a backward'dir'ection. If not for themaintenanceof*the;pressure.on port 204, backward movement of panel .18 would cause-switch 221-to open .sothat the solenoids 170, 191,192 would be de-energized restoringithe circuitto the'position to again applypres- .sure to port .204only. Thus, the panel 18 would'oscil- ,167, 169 and 171,172 and-the fluid under pressure to port 204-of hydraulic unit '84 from port 172-of valve 168 will be cut off. a

As a result, the plunger'87 of hydraulic unit 85 will be retracted .bythe application of fluid under pressure to port 209 thereof to effect movement of panel 18 through the remainder of the 270'degree arc. The fluid forced from port 211.ofmhydraulic unit will flow through ;line 212, ports .171, 169 of valve 185, line 215, ports 163, 161 of .valve 158, .line 216, flow restrictor 217,

which will restrain-the movement of panel 18, lines 218,

174, 146, check valve 147 toreservoir 125. In addition, the port 204 of hydraulic unit :84 will .be :connected to reservoir through flow restrictor 203, line-.202, ports 167 172-of -.valve 188, line 201, ports 172, :171 of valve 168, lines 173, 174 and 146. Consequently, the plunger .86 of hydraulic unit 84 will readily retract, upon retraction of the plunger 87 of hydraulic unit '85.

When the-panel 41 had reached vertical position, the valve 136 was restored to neutral position and the valve 158 is also restored to neutral position when the panel 18 has moved to its fully open position. 7 To move the panels to closed-position, the valve 158 is first ;set to connect ports 157, 163. As a result, fluid under pressure'will beapplied through line 215, ports 169, 171 of energized valve 185, line 212 to port 211 of hydraulic unit 85 to extend its plunger '87 to move panel 18 to the position shown in Fig. 3. At this time due to the action of cam 93, the switch 221 will be opened to break the circuit to solenoids 91, 92. As a result, valves 183 and 184 will be restored to the position shown .to connect ports 167, 169 and 171, 172.

This will cause fluid under pressure to How from junction 132, through lines 198, 199, ports 167, 169 of valves 183,- 184, lines 186, 213, to hydraulic units 194, 193 to restore valves 188, 185, to the position shown to connect ports 167, 169,. and 171, 172 thereof.

sfay five-seconds, which will afford the panel' l8 to closed position.

As a result, fluidunder pressure will 'flow 'through line 215, ports 169, 167 of valve 185, line/206 to port: 205 of hydraulic unit 84 to retract itsplunger 86, to' move 'Thevalve 158 may then be'moved to neutral position and the valve 136 operated to connect its ports 135, 139, so that'flu'id under pressure will flow through line 145 to port 144 of hydraulic unit 66 to retract its plunger 71 to move the cover 41 to closed position.

Although the cover 41 may be secured in closed position solely by the action of the hydraulic fluid in the lines to the hydraulic units 66, in the embodiment shown, suitable latches are provided to ensure that the covers will remain closed even in the event of a break in the hydraulic line. I I I To this end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, a plurality of latch plates 95 are pivotally mounted as at 96 to the vertical leg 97 of the sealing rail 61 around the periphery of hatch opening 12. Extending through an opening 98 in plate 95' is a ring member 99 which may engage a hook 101 aflixed as by welding to the wall 59 of cover 41. The opening 98 is so positioned that with the ring memher engaging the hook 101, the plate 95 may be rotated 7 ina counterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 6 so that the opening 98 will be to the right of pivot 6, the deck of the ship desirably has a wooden sheathing 104thereon and the horizontal leg"- 62 of the sealing rail is flush with the top surface of the sheathing 104. In order that the latch plate 95 and ring member 99 will be concealed when the cover 41-is open, the sheathing '104 desirably has a rectangular recess 105 aligned with each of the latch plates 95 and of dimension suflicient to accommodate the ringmember 99. The recess 105'is covered by means of a plate 106 pivoted at one edge as at 107 to the edge 108 of the recess. The plate 106 has a cutout 109 at its free edge defining a pair oflegs 111 which may straddle the ring 99 when it engages the hook 101, the free ends 112 of legs 111 resting on'a ledge 113 extending outwardly from sealing rail 61. 7'

'When the cover 41 is to be opened, the plate 106 is pivoted toopen the recess, and after the ring member is released from the hook, it may be pivoted downwardly into the recess and the plate. moved to rest against the ledge to conceal the ring member so that there is no danger of -a crew member tripping thereagainst.

With the assembly above" described, the hatch opening and elevator housing'entrancemay be rapidly opened andnclosed by a crewjr'nemberby mere operation of suitable control. valves, and as. the covers will be moved clear of .thehatch opening and entrance, unimpeded access thereto is' provided.

As many changes could'be made in the above construction and circuit, and many apparently widely differe'nt embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the. accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. i

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters'Patent of the United States is? j 1. Equipment for effecting movement of 'a panel through an angle of substantially 270 degrees, said equipment comprising a panel, a fixed support for said panel, means pivotally mounting said panel to said fixed support, a pair of actuators each having a casing member and .a reciprocable member, means pivotally mounting one of the members f eachof said pairtto said panel,

8 means pivotallym'ounting the other of said membersto said support, the pivotal connections of both of said actuators to said panel being on the same side and exteriorly of the angular r egion defined by lines extending from the pivotal mount for said panel,- to-the. fixed pivotal mount for each actuator, said actuators and said pivotal mounts being constructed and arranged for one of said actuators to effect rotation of said panel about its pivotal mount on said fixed support to a predetermined position, to bring the pivotal panel mountof said actuator to a position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel mount of said actuator to its fixed pivotal'mount will be locatedon one side of the pivotal mount'for said panel and to bring the pivotal panel mountofsaid other actuator to a position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel mount of said other actuatoryto its fixed'pivotal mount will be located on the other side'of' the pivotal mount for said panel.

2. 'The combination set forth in'claim l in which said actuators are hydraulic units, said casing members are the cylinders of said units and the reciprocable members are the plungers of the units.

p 3. The combination set forth in claim 1' in which the panel has parallel sidewalls,- the pivotalmountfor s aid panel is adjacent an edge thereof between saidside walls, said actuators are hydraulic units having a cylinder a plunger slidable therein, defining the casing member and reciprocable'member respectively-and the pivotal mount forsaid hydraulic units is on the sidewall of said panel I 4. The combination set forthin claim' l in which thc panel has parallel side walls, the pivotal mount forsaid panel is adjacent an edge thereof between said side walls, said actuators are hydraulic units having a cylinder, and a plunger slidable therein, defining the casing member and reciprocable member respectively, the pivotal mount for said hydraulic units to said panel beingon the side wall of said panel and means are provided to extend the plunger Of' th6 first hydraulic unit to' rotate. said panel and'after it has reached such predetermined position to retract the plunger of the second hydraulic unit. ,I

5. A construction of the character described comprising a substantiallyrectangular housing having parallel side walls, an open front and a top wall, a substantially rectangular panel'to cover said open front of said housing, said panel having a top wall and parallel side walls, means pivotally connecting the panel at its top wall to the topwall of said housing for rotation'of said pancl through an angle of substantially 270 degrees, a pair of hydraulic' units each having a cylinder member and 'a plunger member slidable therein, meanspivotallylcorinecting the end of one of said members of each of said units to the sidewall of the panel and means connecting the end'of the. other of said members ofeach' of said units to the side wall of said housing, the pivotal cqrinections of both of said hydraulic units tofsaid P5961 being on the same side and exteriorly or the angular region defined by lines extending from the pivotal mount for said panel, to the fixed pivotal mount for,-each .hydraulic unit, said hydraulic units. and said pivotal connections being constructed and arranged for one ofsaid hydraulic units to effectrotatiori of said panel to a predetermined position tobring the pivotal panelconnection of said unit to a position such that a lineextending from said pivotal panel connection of said unit to its pivotal connection to said housing is on one side of'the pivotal connection of said panel and to bring'thepivotal panel connection of said other hydraulic unit" to a position such that a line extending from said pivdial panel connection of said other unit, to its pivotal coniiection to said housing will be located jonfthe othen ide, of't h e pivotal connection of said panel. p i f 'j 6;- The combination set forthincl'aim 5 infwhicha source of fluid under pressure is provided, a valveconnected in circuit between said source and said two hydraulic" units, and normally providing communication b'etwee'irsai'd source. and thexfirst hydraulic unit to efiect movement ofits plunger" member, .and cutting ofi communi'catiorr between said source and said second hydraulic unit, a second valve connected in a circuit between said' source and said first hydraulic unit and normally cutting off communication therebetween through said circuit, means when said 'panel has reached such predetermined position, to actuate" said valves, whereby said firstvalve provides communication between said source and said second hyd'raulicunit, and said second valve provides communication between said source and said first hydraulic unit and means thereafter automatically to deactuate saidsecond valve to cut ofi communication throughsaid circuit between said source and said first hydraulicunit, for completion of the movement of said panel. through. such angle of 270. degrees by said second hydraulic unit.v I

The combination v set forth in claim in which means are provided to extend the plunger of the firstare on a common axis.

9. A construction of the character described compris- 7 ing a substantially rectangular housing rising from one end of a ships hatchway, said housing having parallel side walls, an open front and a top wall, a substantially rectangular panel to cover said open front of said housing, said panel having a top wall and parallel side walls, means pivotally'connecting the panel at its top wall to the top wall of said housing for rotation of said panel through an angle of substantially 270 degrees, a pair of hydraulic units each having a cylinder member and a plunger member slidable therein, means pivotally connecting the end of one of said members of each of said units to the side Wall of the panel and means connecting the end of the other of said 'members of each of said units to the side wall of said housing, said hydraulic units and said pivotal connections being constructed and arranged for one of said hydraulic units to elfect rotation ofsaid panel to a predetermined position to bring the pivotal panel connection of said unit to a position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel connection of said unit to its pivotal connection to said housing is on one side of the pivotal connection of said panel and to bring the pivotal panel connection of said other hydraulic unit to a position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel connection of said other unit, to its pivotal connection to said housing will be located on the other side of the pivotal connection of said panel, a second.

into substantially parallel relationship with respect to said first panel. 7

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which the means to move said second panel comprises a hydraulic unit having a cylinder and a plunger slidable therein, and

means pivotally to connect the free end of said plunger to the lower end of said first panel and means pivotally rail insaid recess, a. complementary latch' member is r mounted on the periphery of the'secon'd panelv and aligned with said first latch member and a .plate is releasably mounted: over said recess to close the latter;

g 15.. A construction of the character described compris+ ing a. substantially rectangular housing having parallel side walls, an open front and a top wall, a substantially rectangular panel to cover said open front of said housing, said panel having a top wall and parallel. side walls; means pivotally connecting the panel at its top wall to the top wall of said housingv for rotation o'f saidpanel through an angle of substantially 270 degrees, a pair of hydraulic units each having a cylinder memberand' a plunger member slidable therein, means pivotally connecting the end of one of said :nrembers of each of said units to the side wall of the panel and means connecting the endof the other of said members of each of said units to the sidewall of said housing, said hydraulic units extending parallel to the side walls of said panel and said housing, one of said hydraulic units being positioned outwardly of the other hydraulic unit, the pivotal connections of both of said hydraulic units to said panel being on a common axis, said hydraulic units and said pivotal connections being constructed and. arranged for one of said hydraulic units to effect rotation of said panel to a predetermined position to bring the pivotal panel connection of said unit to a position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel connection of said unit to its pivotal connection to said housing is on one side of the pivotal connection of said panel and to bring the pivotal panel connection of said other hydraulic unit toa position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel connection of said other unit, to its pivotal connection to said housing will be located on the other. side of the pivotal connection of said panel.

16. A construction of the character described comprising a substantially rectangular housing having parallel side walls, an open front and a top wall, a substantially rectangular panel to cover said open front of said housing, said panel having a top wall and parallel side walls, a hinge pivotally connecting the panel at its top wall to the top wall of said housing for rotation of said panel through an angle of substantially 270 degrees, a cam carriedby said hinge to be rotated upon rotation of said panel, a pair of hydraulic units each having a cylinder member and a plunger member slidabletherein, means pivotally connecting the end of one of said members of each of said units to the side wall of the panel and means connecting the end of the other of said members of each of said units tothe sidewall of said housing, said hydraulic units and said pivotal connections being constructed and arranged for one of said hydraulic units to effect pivotal panel connection'of said other unit, to its pivotal connection to said housing will be located onthe other side of the pivotal connection of said panel, means to actuate said first hydraulic unit to rotate said panel to such predetermined position and means controlled by said cam after said panel has rotated to reach such predetermined position toefiect actuation of said second hydraulic unit to retract the plunger thereof.

ing a substantially. rectangular housingthaving "parallel side walls, an open front and atop wall, a substantially rectangular panel to cover said open front of said housing, said panel having a top wall and parallel side walls, means pivotally connecting the panel at its top wall to the top wall of said housing for rotation of said panel through an angle ofsubstantially 270 degrees, a pair of hydraulic units each having a cylinder member and a plunger member slidable'therein, the side wall of said housing having a pair of brackets extending laterally outthe'plungers 'of said units being pivotally connected on a common axis adjacent the top wall of said panel and on a level above said brackets, said hydraulic units and said pivotal connections being constructed and arranged for one of said hydraulic units to effect rotation of saidpanel to a predetermined position to bring. the pivotal panel connection of said unit to a position suchthat a line extending from said pivotalpanel connection of said unit to its pivotal connection to said housingis on one side of theapivotal connection of said panel and to bring the pivotal panel connection of said other hydraulic unit to a position such that a line extending from said pivotal panel connection of said other unit, to its pivotalrconnection to said housing will be located on the other side of the pivotal connection of said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent v UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,277,640 Harrington Mar. 24, 1942 2,283,577 Roby May 19, 1942 2,353,655 Day July 18, 1944 2,772,789 Hussong et al. Dec. 4, 1956 

